M.C. Gainey

Born:January 18, 1948

Place of Birth:Jackson, Mississippi, USA

Known For:Acting

Biography

M.C. Gainey, born Mike Connor Gainey on January 18, 1948, is a versatile American actor known for his imposing presence, distinctive mustache, and towering height of 6'2½". Gainey's career in the entertainment industry has been nothing short of impressive, with a wide range of roles that showcase his talent and versatility.

Before pursuing acting, Gainey attended the University of Southern Mississippi and even worked as an undertaker's apprentice. However, his true passion lay in the performing arts, leading him to study acting at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco in the early 1970s, alongside notable talents like Ken Hixon. His dedication and commitment to his craft soon paid off when he made his big-screen debut in the Steve Martin musical "Pennies from Heaven" in 1981.

Since then, Gainey has amassed an extensive filmography, appearing in over 50 movies and made-for-TV films. His roles have ranged from Southern and Southwestern types to thugs and criminals, showcasing his ability to embody a diverse array of characters. Some of his notable works include "Con Air," "Terminator 3," "Sideways," and "The Dukes of Hazzard," where he left a lasting impression on audiences with his memorable performances.

In addition to his film work, Gainey has made a significant impact on television, guest-starring on over 40 shows throughout his career. His appearances on popular series like "Lost," where he portrayed the enigmatic Tom Friendly in 20 episodes, have solidified his reputation as a talented character actor with a commanding presence on screen.

Gainey's talent extends beyond live-action roles, as he lent his voice to animated projects as well. In 2010, he voiced the character of the Captain of the Palace Guard in the beloved animated musical film "Tangled," showcasing his versatility as a performer across different mediums.

Throughout his career, Gainey has continued to impress audiences and critics alike with his nuanced portrayals and undeniable screen presence. His dedication to his craft and ability to bring depth to every character he embodies have solidified his status as a respected and sought-after actor in the entertainment industry.

Images

Filmography

Acting

Tangled

Captain of the Guard (voice)

2010

Feisty teenager Rapunzel, who has long and magical hair, wants to go and see sky lanterns on her eighteenth birthday, but she's bound to a tower by her overprotective mother. She strikes a deal with Flynn Rider, a charming wanted thief, and the duo set off on an action-packed escapade.

Django Unchained

Big John Brittle

2012

With the help of a German bounty hunter, a freed slave sets out to rescue his wife from a brutal Mississippi plantation owner.

Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines

Roadhouse Bouncer

2003

It's been 10 years since John Connor saved Earth from Judgment Day, and he's now living under the radar, steering clear of using anything Skynet can trace. That is, until he encounters T-X, a robotic assassin ordered to finish what T-1000 started. Good thing Connor's former nemesis, the Terminator, is back to aid the now-adult Connor … just like he promised.

Con Air

"Swamp Thing"

1997

Newly-paroled former US Army ranger Cameron Poe is headed back to his wife, but must fly home aboard a prison transport flight dubbed "Jailbird" taking the “worst of the worst” prisoners, a group described as “pure predators”, to a new super-prison. Poe faces impossible odds when the transport plane is skyjacked mid-flight by the most vicious criminals in the country led by the mastermind — genius serial killer Cyrus "The Virus" Grissom, and backed by black militant Diamond Dog and psychopath Billy Bedlam.

Geronimo: An American Legend

Unafraid Miner

1993

The Apache Indians have reluctantly agreed to settle on a US Government approved reservation. Not all the Apaches are able to adapt to the life of corn farmers. One in particular, Geronimo, is restless. Pushed over the edge by broken promises and necessary actions by the government, Geronimo and thirty or so other warriors form an attack team which humiliates the government by evading capture, while reclaiming what is rightfully theirs.

Wild Hogs

Murdock

2007

Restless and ready for an adventure, four suburban bikers leave the safety of their subdivision and head out on the open road. But complications ensue when they cross paths with an intimidating band of New Mexico bikers known as the Del Fuegos.

Breakdown

Earl

1997

On their cross-country drive, a married couple, Jeff and Amy Taylor, experience car trouble after their SUV breaks down. Stranded in the New Mexico desert, the two catch a break when a passing truck driver offers Amy a ride to a nearby café to call for help. Meanwhile, Jeff is able to fix the car and make his way to the café, but Amy isn't there. He tracks down the trucker -- who tells the police he's never seen Jeff or his wife before. Jeff then begins a desperate, frenzied search for Amy.

Are We There Yet?

Al

2005

The fledgling romance between Nick, a playboy bachelor, and Suzanne, a divorced mother of two, is threatened by a particularly harrowing New Years Eve. When Suzanne's work keeps her in Vancouver for the holiday, Nick offers to bring her kids to the city from Portland, Oregon. The kids, who have never liked any of the men their mom dates, are determined to turn the trip into a nightmare for Nick.

Sideways

Cammi's Husband

2004

Two middle-aged men embark on a spiritual journey through Californian wine country. One is an unpublished novelist suffering from depression, and the other is only days away from walking down the aisle.

The Fan

Man Behind Man

1996

When the San Francisco Giants pay center-fielder, Bobby Rayburn $40 million to lead their team to the World Series, no one is happier or more supportive than #1 fan, Gil Renard. When Rayburn becomes mired in the worst slump of his career, the obsessed Renard decides to stop at nothing to help his idol regain his former glory—not even murder.

The Dukes of Hazzard

Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane

2005

Cousins, Bo and Luke Duke, with the help of their eye-catching cousin, Daisy and moonshine-running Uncle Jesse, try and save the family farm from being destroyed by Hazzard County's corrupt commissioner, Boss Hogg. Their efforts constantly find the 'Duke Boys' eluding authorities in 'The General Lee', their 1969 orange Dodge Charger that keeps them one step ahead of the dimwitted antics of the small southern town's Sheriff, Roscoe P. Coltrane.

The New Guy

Clem

2002

Nerdy high school senior Dizzy Harrison has finally gotten lucky -- after purposely getting expelled, he takes lessons in 'badass cool' from a convict and enrolls at a new school. But can he keep up the ruse?

Starman

Cop #2

1984

When an alien takes the form of a young widow's husband and asks her to drive him from Wisconsin to Arizona, the government tries to stop them.

Beerfest

Priest

2006

During a trip to Germany to scatter their grandfather's ashes, German-American brothers Todd and Jan discover Beerfest, the secret Olympics of downing stout, and want to enter the contest to defend their family's beer-guzzling honor. Their Old Country cousins sneer at the Yanks' chances, prompting the siblings to return to America to prepare for a showdown the following year.

The Mighty Ducks

Lewis

1992

After reckless young lawyer Gordon Bombay gets arrested for drunk driving, he must coach a kids hockey team for his community service. Gordon has experience on the ice, but isn't eager to return to hockey, a point hit home by his tense dealings with his own former coach, Jack Reilly. The reluctant Gordon eventually grows to appreciate his team, which includes promising young Charlie Conway, and leads them to take on Reilly's tough players.

All About Steve

Norm the Truck Driver

2009

After one short blind date, Mary Horowitz, a brilliant and eccentric crossword constructor, is convinced that Steve, a CCN cameraman, is her soul mate. Because his job takes him hither and yon, she crisscrosses the country following Steve, with the encouragement of a reporter, turning up at media events he's at to convince him they are perfect for each other. Along the way, she befriends an assortment of misfits who accept her for who she is, leading her to reassess her reasons for this strange journey.

Tangled: Before Ever After

Captain of the Guard (voice)

2017

Rapunzel grapples with the responsibilities of being a princess and the overprotective ways of her father. While she wholeheartedly loves Eugene, Rapunzel does not share his immediate desire to get married and settle down within the castle walls. Determined to live life on her own terms, she and her tough-as-nails Lady-in-Waiting Cassandra embark on a secret adventure where they encounter mystical rocks that magically cause Rapunzel's long blonde hair to grow back. Impossible to break and difficult to hide, Rapunzel must learn to embrace her hair and all that it represents.

Soul Man

Jail Cell Bigot

1986

A white prospective grad student's affluent family won't pay his way through law school, so he takes tanning pills to darken his skin in order to qualify for an African-American scholarship at Harvard. He soon gets more than he bargained for, as he begins to learn what life is really like for blacks in America.

Time After Time

London Bobby

1979

Writer H. G. Wells pursues Jack the Ripper to modern day San Francisco after the infamous serial killer steals his time machine to escape the 19th century. Imagine! A scientific genius named H. G. Wells stalks a criminal genius named Jack the Ripper across time itself in the most ingenious thriller of our time.

Club Dread

Hank

2004

When a serial killer interrupts the fun at the swanky Coconut Pete's Coconut Beach Resort -- a hedonistic island paradise for swingers --- it's up to the club's staff to stop the violence ... or at least hide it!

Getting LOST

Self

2024

A documentary revisiting the global television phenomenon LOST. Featuring interviews with the cast and crew, as well as members of the loyal fan base who still celebrate the show twenty years after it originally aired.

Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie

Bartender

2004

While Ron Burgundy's rivalry with Veronica Corningstone escalates quickly, a group of unprofessional thieves better known as 'The Alarm Clock' try to make the truth known, whatever that may mean...

Run Ronnie Run

Hark Trellis

2002

A redneck with an uncanny knack for getting arrested becomes the star of his own reality program.

Citizen Ruth

Harlan

1996

"Citizen Ruth" is the story of Ruth Stoops, a woman who nobody even noticed -- until she got pregnant. Now, everyone wants a piece of her. The film is a comedy about one woman caught in the ultimate tug-of-war: a clash of wild, noisy, ridiculous people that rapidly dissolves into a media circus.